Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav are quality players, important to back them: Ajinkya Rahane

Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav are quality players, important to back them: Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane backed middle-order batsmen Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav to discover their form and fire against Australia in the coming ODIs

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IndiaToday.in

September 23, 2017

UPDATED: September 23, 2017 15:58 IST

Reuters Photo

HIGHLIGHTS

Rahane heaped praise on Kuldeep and Chahal

Kuldeep picked up a hat-trick in second ODI

Manish and Kedar are quality players

Team India batsman Ajinkya Rahane backed Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav to do well and said that the team management is backing them to come good.

Pandey has failed to fire against the Austrians after a good Sri Lanka series while Jadhav failed to convert his starts and steady the ship in the middle.

The opener also heaped praise on the young wrist spinners -- Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. While Kuldeep picked up a hat-trick in the second ODI to help India down the Aussies by 50 runs in Kolkata, Chahal's tight bowling and ability to pick up wickets at crucial junctures of the game has really helped Virat Kohli as the hosts have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

However, the 29-year-old, who says he likes to stay in the present and take things as they come, said that he and the team are not taking the visitors lightly because they are a quality side.

Here are some excerpts of what Rahane said in the pre-match press conference:

ON MANISH PANDEY AND KEDAR JADHAV

They just played two games, they did well in Sri Lanka. The team management is backing them. Manish and Kedar are quality players and it's important to give confidence to your players. It happens to professional players. Sometimes you score runs, sometimes you don't. It's important to back them. They're great players and team management is backing them.

ON KULDEEP AND CHAHAL

It's a good sign that they are not being able to pick both of them. They are quality spinners, have well in domestic circuit and are improving day by day. In ODI cricket it's important to take wickets in the middle overs and both of them are doing the same thing. They are taking wickets in the middle overs and not giving away runs at the same time. So, it's good to have them and I'm sure they're looking to improve day by day. They are not taking things for granted, lightly and that's a good sign. (Pressure will be on Kuldeep Yadav to perform, not me: David Warner to India Today)

ON STRATEGY FOR THE INDORE ODI

We will decide the strategy about the game after the practice session about how to go about our game. I've always enjoyed playing in Indore. I've played a lot of my domestic cricket over here and I've good memories of this place. (Indore wicket will help wrist spinners, says curator)

ON HIS FUTURE WHEN SHIKHAR DHAWAN COMES BACK

I don't think about the future. I do my best whenever I get my opportunity and that's what matters. I always think about staying in the present. For me the best thing is to stick to my game plan, back myself and in whatever opportunities I get, I always look to give my best and contribute towards the team. You can't think of getting 100s every time, even if you get a crucial 45-50 or a 60-70, it matters. I always look to do that.

When Shikhar comes we don't know what is going to happen. At the moment it's important for me to give my best for the team.

Reuters Photo

ON WHAT SACHIN ADVISED HIM FEW DAYS BACK

Sachin Tendulkar asked me to back my game when I met him at the BKC. Sometimes you will get the opportunity, sometimes you don't...that's not in your hand. All you can do is prepare well, have a good mindset. He didn't discuss much about my technique but about the mental aspect and how to prepare.

I got a lot of confidence from his positive words.

ON FLEXIBILITY OF THE INDIAN BATTING ORDER

It's mentally. The good thing about this team is anyone can bat anywhere. I bat at 4, 5, 1 and it's important how you visualize that situation and how you handle it. It's completely in your mind, if you can adjust in your mind, you can adapt anywhere.

ON CREATING NEW RECORDS

We always try to play good cricket and win the match. Nobody thinks about records, they just come along. If the mindset and intent is right and you bat, bowl well records will come on their own. As a team we will try to play good cricket and win the match.

STRATEGY FOR THE INDORE ODI

I haven't seen the wicket. Boundaries are small. If we do our best in batting, bowling and fielding, we have a good chance to win. But we are not taking things for granted, Australia are a quality team and we are respecting our opponents. We are just taking one game at a time and right now we want to win this game.

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